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Topic: I HAVE RECEIVED MY PACKET FROM THE AN ASSOCIATION (Read 3986 times)

i SENT FOR MY PACKET INFORMATION FROM THE AN ASSOCIATION AND THERE IS SOMUCH INTERESTING INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THE BOOKLETS AND PAPERWORK.I WAS IMPRESSED. I AM STILL IN A WAITING PATTERN TO SEE THE PHYSICIAN INGAINESVILLE, WHICH IS NOT UNTIL AUGUST 13TH TO SEE PATRICK ANTONELLLI. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE FIRST AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT THAT THEY HAD. I AMFEELING MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE ABOUT THE WHOLE ISSUE AFTER RESEARCHINGAND READING WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY THAT ARE EITHER WATCHING AND WAITING OR HAVE ALREADY HAD TREATMENT OF SOME KIND. SO, I WILL KEEP YOUALL INFORMED OF ANY NEW NEWS, OR WHEN I AM ABLE TO GET MY OPTIONS AFTERSPEAKING TO THE PHYSICIAN. I CONTINUE TO READ THE NEW POSTS IN THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES ON THIS FORUM. A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION IS POSTED HERE. I THINK ABOUT IT SUBCONSCIOUSLY I GUESS, BECAUSE MY SLEEPING PATTERNS HAVE CHANGED, BUT I THINK ITS ONLY NATURAL TO DO SO. ANYONE FACING SOME MAJOR HEALTH ISSUES SHOULD BE A LITTLE CONCERNED, BUT AS EVERYONE ELSE DOES, WE JUST GO WITH THE FLOW AND DO THE BEST WE CAN TO COLLECT ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE CAN, SO WE HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF ALL OPTIONS, GOOD POINTS AND NO SO GOOD POINTS. HAS ANYONE HAD SKULL BASE SURGERY WITH DR. PATRICK ANTONELLI AT THE UNIV OF FLA IN GAINESVILLE?

HI ANNA MARIE,I RECEIVED A PACKET BY GOING TO WWW.ANAUSA.ORG/CONTACT AND WENT TO CONTACT INFORMATION AND THERE IS AN AREA TO FILL OUT WITH YOURNAME, EMAIL ADDRESS, ETC AND AT THE BOTTOM IS AN AREA TO PLACE A CHECKMARK TO OBTAIN A FREE AN INFORMAITON PACKET. THERE ARE SEVERALBOOKLETS, AND PAPERWORK. ALSO A LISTING OF OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT YOU CAN CONTACT WITH THEIR EMAIL ADDRESS THAT ARE WILLING TO TOUCHBASE AND SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES, MUCH LIKE THIS FORUM. THERE ARE 2 LISTED IN MY LOCAL AREA, BUT IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHERE OTHERS LIVE,ONLY IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR PARTICULAR PHYSICIANS OR THINGS LIKE THAT. TRY OUT THE WEBSITE AND SEE IF YOU CAN GET THIS PACKET. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU GET THE WEB SITE.

I totally agree with you. The packet from the ANA contains some very valuable information. A lot of it my doctor had gone over with me - watch & wait vs radiation vs surgery - but it was great to read it in "layman's terms". I'm an accountant and a lot of the medical terminology my doc used was somewhat over my head; thank God he's a patient man and didn't mind my endless questions

My only regret was that I didn't hear of the ANA prior to my decision (surgery), as I think reading the information packet, as well as the posts on this site, would have helped ease my fears. There's nothing like being able to connect with people who can relate to AN's firsthand.

I picked up the ANA's membership brochure purely by chance in the waiting room of my doctor's office at my first postop visit (9 days after surgery to have my stitches removed). I am somewhat puzzled why my doctor didn't mention the ANA to me since his partner is on the ANA Medical Advisory Board. But whatever the reason, next time I see him I plan on asking him to give the ANA membership brochure to all his patients when they are first diagnosed with an AN.

Just to let you know I had surgery at Shands with Drs. Antonelli and Neurosurgeon Lewis. The approach was retrosigmoid, tumor was medium size, and this all done in 2005. I have no complaints and was very happy with Dr. Antonelli and his skill as a surgeon who trained under Dr. Rhoton (a pioneer). I am 5 hours from Shands and this makes it difficult to "pop in" for an appointment with Dr. Antonelli.

IMO I definately recommend to all who have treatment "out of town", make sure you or your doctors line up doctors in your home town for any after care that may be needed. I have had one hellofa time with docs in my home town that don't seem to be experienced with AN side effects after treatment and there are patients, me included, that go from one specialist to another searching for answers. I do have issues going on with my good ear, not from anything Dr. Antonelli and his team did as my surgery went well, but as one ENT stated, "I'm complicated due to my x-AN."

I hope this helps with your on-going information collection and am here if needed, you can email me anytime or call to talk.